verb

press against (something) lightly several times with a piece of absorbent material in order to clean or dry it or to apply a substance.

he dabbed his mouth with his napkin

pat,press,touch,blot,mop,swab,smudge,spread,daub,bedaub,apply,wipe,stroke,stipple

noun

a small amount of something.

she licked a dab of chocolate from her finger

drop,dash,spot,smear,dribble,trickle,splash,sprinkle,speck,taste,lick,trace,touch,hint,suggestion,soupçon,particle,bit,modicum,little,smidgen,tad